Vacuum soldering-machine.



PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

' H. EAGHUS. VACUUM SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1905.

3 MEETS-SHEET 1.

1N0 817,306. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. H. EAGHUS.

VACUUM SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

M wessasr w W y No. 817,306. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

H. EAGHUS. VACUUM SOLDBRING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY6. 1905.

HOLTON EACHUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FAIRBANK CAN- NING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

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Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed May 8, 1905. Serial No. 2519307.

.To (tZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOLTON EACHUS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook, State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Soldering-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw-' most general and effective construction has been to provide a rotary carrier revolving horizontally about a vertical axis and containing an annular-shaped chamber, which through a suitable o enlng was filled with the cans, the cans being lled and capped, with the small opening or vent-hole through the cap, which permits the esca e of the air from the can. The cans were p aced one against the other in this annular-shaped chamber, with the ca s u and with one or more small glob ules of sol er lying looseupon the tops of the cans. The opening through which the cans are introduced is then closed andtheconnections between the annular chamber and a suitablevacuum-chamber is opened, causing a suitable degree of vacuum in said chamber and'maintaming the same therein during the process of solderm By this means the air is exhausted from t e cans throu h the venthole in the caps, and, controlle by the operator, the carrier is set in motion. The cans pass under a suitable dome provided with a glass-covered opening and containing a soldering-tool which is capable of being operated irom the outside. As a can comes within reach of the soldering-tool the carrier is stopped by the operator,.one of the loose globules of solder engaged by the solderingtool, and the vent-hole in the top of the can brought under thesoldering-tool when the opening is soldered. The process. is repeated until all the cans in the annular chamber have been soldered, when by suitable means i the air is given access to the chamber, the chamber opened, and the cans removed. The'difficulties with this process are several.

In the first place, owing to the fact that the soldering-tool has been so constructed as to allow it to swing from side to side and up and down toward and away from the can only in order to pick up the globule of solder and convey it to the vent-hole of the cap it is necessary to stop the rotary motion of the carrier for each soldering operation. Again, as the cans are all contamed 1n one annularshaped chamber and as it is customary to have several of these machines connected with one air-pump or vacuum-chamber the sudden connection of the entire annularshaped chamber with the vacuum-pump causes a drop in the vacuum and a corre sponding ine uality in the other machines. Again, in suc construction the connection with the vacuum-chamber is of such a character as to necessarily cause a practically instantaneous vacuum in the annular chamber, and the suddenness with which the pressure of the air is thus removed from the outside of the cans causes the cans to buckle. For the samereason the air having been exhausted from the cans before they are'soldered the opening of the chamber causes the sudden filling of the chamber with air, which also tends to cause the cans to buckle.

It is the object of my invention to produce I dome or vacuum-chamber in such a way that its bearing-surface forms an air-tight connection with theupper edges of the carrier and can-chambers. One part of this plate or cap is provided near its opening into the dome or vacuum-chamber with grooves which widen and (lee en toward the chamber, and at the end of t e plate or cap at the opposite end of the dome and at its end removed from said dome similar grooves, which widen and provide a rotary carrier which rotates con-- tinuously in a vertical lane on a horizontal axis and which is provided with a plurality of radial compartments which move successively under the plate or dome and are thus successively subjected to the action of the vacuum within said dome. This is the form of my invention which I have illustrated in the drawings and will describe in detail and which is in a form which is adapted to contain and operate upon cans whose caps are provided with a suflicient amount of solder adhering to the cap in close proximityto the vent-hole to seal the opening when subjected to the applicationof a soldering-tool.

I propose to file aseparate application for a patent for cans so constructed and vided with solder adhering to the cap in the .proximity'of the vent-hole and for the machine for applying the solder to the cans.

. Within the dome I provide a new and improved form of soldering mechanism, which is'controlled from the outside by the operator and which has both a movement back and forth circumferentially of the carrier, as well as a motion from side to side across the direction of they rotation and to and away from the chambers or compartments.

I accomplish these objects by means of the mechanism hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an'end -elevation.

-, Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail, being a view of the cap or 7 plate seen from the under side.

Referring to the drawings, 6 indicates a frame or standard in which is mounted a rotary carrier 7. The rotary carrier 7 is journaled in suitable bearings 8 in theframe or standard 6 and is provided with an internal gear-9.

10 indicates a pinion which is driven by ashaft 11, journaled in the frame 6 and driven from any suitable source of power. (Not shown.) The carrier is provided with a number of compartments 12 upon its eriphery,

which are closed at the bottom an sides and open at the top and are each preferably adapted to contain a single can. pe i hery of the carrier is accurately ground, so t at it may fit closely to the .plate hereinafter described.

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The outer 13 indicates a plate which is bolted or 0th nected to a suitable pump or other means for I producing a vacuum, which may be of any well-known charactergand hence is not shown, by means of a pipe 16, which passes through a suitable shoulder in the cap or plate 13. Upon one side of the plate or cap '13 and leading into the opening 14 are two grooves 17, which are widest and deepest where they open into the opening 14 and become narrower and shallower toward their inner ends away from the opening. Upon the end of the cap 13 which is away from the dome 15 in the direction of the rotation of the carrier are two similar grooves 18, which are widest and deepest at the edge of the plate and become narrower and shallower toward the middle of the plate. 19indicatesaflexiblesocket,preferably of rubber, which is secured to the outer surface of the dome 15 by means of a plate 20 or in any other suitable manner. The socket 19-has a longitudinal opening through it in which is placed a tubular packing 21 secured in place by a cap 22.

23 indicates a rod which is slidinglymounted in the packing 21 and passes through said packing and throughthe socket 19, throu h a suitable opening into the interior of .t e dome 15', and is provided with a suitable handle 24 uponits outer end.

25 indicates an electric soldering-tool of any approved construction which is removably supported on' the inner endof the rod 23 and is'connectedby flexible insulated wires 26 with a plug27 upon the top of the dome 15, by means of which it maybe connected to any suitable source of electric current. 'The front of the-dome 15 is provided with a suitable opening 28, covered air-tight by a glass plate 29, through whichthe interior of the dome 15 may be observed by the operator.

30 indicates an offset in the back of the dome 15, in which is hung an electric light 31, connected with a plug 32, by means of which it may be connectedwith any suitable source of electric current. a

. It will be seen from the above description that the electric-soldering tool 25 may-be swung from side to side across the plane of .the wheel and moved up and down toward and away from the com artments 12 to such amount as is necessary or bringing the point of the tool to the proper position on thecap in these respects by moving thehandle 24 from side to side or up and down, the flexible emcee socket 19 permitting this motion. At the same time by sliding therod longitudinally of itself in the socket and packing the point of the soldering-tool may be moved to and fro in the direction of the movement of the cans in the compartments.

33 indicates a pipe which opens from a suitable shoulder in the cap or plate 13 and leads to a gage 34, which indicates the degree of vacuum.

The operation of my device is as follows: As the form in which I prefer to embody my invention is provided with a carrier which revolves in a vertical plane on a horizontal axis, I use cans which have previously been filled and capped, with the caps of course soldered on, having already placed in close proximity to the vent-hole in the cap sufiicient amount of solder to close the opening when acted upon by the soldering-tool, the solder adhering to the cap.

The carrier being set in motion and the dome 15 connected with the vacuum-pump or other means for producing a vacuum through the tube 16, a vacuum is produced in the dome 15. The cans, previously filled and capped and having the solder secured upon the upper surface of the cap in proximity to the vent-hole therein, as above noted, are fed successively into the chambers or compartments 12 as the wheel rotates, with their capped ends toward the periphery of the wheel.

The compartments 12 are made of a size adapted to hold the largest cans ordinarily used, and in case smaller cans are to be soldered suitable blocks are placed in the bottom of the compartments, so that in any case the top of the can will reach almost to the top of the compartment containing it. As the compartment containing the can is moved under the plate 13 it is closed air-tight,-and as the forward edge of each compartment reaches the groove 17 the compartment begins to be subjected to the action of the vacuum in the chamber 15, and the air is gradually exhausted, and passing farther along the air is completely exhausted from the compartment. In Fig. 2 I haveshowna compartment 12 as just coming within the reach of the groove 17. As soon as the compartment containing the can to be soldered comes below the dome 15 the operator, watching it through the glass plate 29., by sliding the rod 23 longitudinally of itself and swinging it from side to side as may be needed to brin the point of the soldering-tool 25 over the vent-hole of the can and by lifting the handle 24, brings the point of' the solderingtool down upon the can. By pulling the handle outward to the right the tool follows the motion of the can for a time necessary to melt the solder to close the opening of the cap, thus rendering it unnecessary to stop the'motion of the carrier in the soldering process.

The process is repeated, of course, with each succeeding can. As the can is soldered and the compartment moves out from under the dome 15 and approaches the other end of the plate 13 the air is admitted to the compartment gradually at first, through the grooves 18, until each compartment passes out from under the plate 13, and the cans are discharged from the compartments in any suitable manner. The carrier moves, of course, at such rate that the air is exhausted from the can through the opening left in the cap, by means of the compartment containing it .coming under the dome 15 before the soldering-tool is applied to close the vent.

As has been pointed out above, in the perfected form in which I have shown and described my invention the carrier is a rotary carrier in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis and provided with separate radial compartments each adapted to contain a single can and adapted to be successively moved below the plate and vacuum dome or chamber, so as to be successively subjected to the action of said vacuum-dome. The invention as thus described is adapted to operate on cans the solder for closing the opening in the caps of which is placed upon the caps beforehand, adhering thereto in sufficient amount to stop the opening when subjected to the action of'the soldering-tool.

It is obvious that the carrier might be otherwise disposed or might rotate on an axis other than a horizontal one without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not confine myself to this form of carrier, except as hereinafter specifically claimed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a movable carrier having a plurality of compartments, and a plate adapted to cover two or more of said compartments successively as said carrier moves and having a suitable openingtherein, of a vacuum-chamber covering said opening, grooves in said plate connecting with said vacuum-chamber and adapted to expose said compartments successively to the action of the vacuum as said carrier moves them under said plate, and means for soldering the vent in the caps of the cans contained in said compartments as they pass under said vacuum-chamber, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a movable carrier having a plurality of compartments, and a plate adapted to cover two or more of said compartments successively as said carrier moves and having a suitable opening therein,of a vacuum-chamber covering said opening, grooves in said plate connecting with said vacuum-chamber and adapted'to expose said compartments successively to the action of the vacuum as said. carrier moves them under'said plate, grooves in said plate adapt- IIC ed to gradually admit air into said compartments successively as said carrier moves them beyond the said vacuum-chamber, and means for soldering the vent in the caps of the cans contained in said compartments as they pass under said vacuum-chamber, substantially as described;

3. The combination with a rotary carrier provided with a plurality of compartments each adapted to contain a can, of a plate adapted to cover successively two or more of said compartments as said carrier rotates and having a suitable opening, a vacuum-chamber covering said opening, grooves in said plate connected with said vacuum-chamber and adapted to gradually expose said compartments successively to the action of the vacuum in said chamber as said carrier rotates, and means for soldering the vent-holes in said cans in said compartments as they are successively moved into the action of said vacuum-chamber, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a rotary carrier provided with a plurality of compartments each adapted to contain a can, of a plate adapted to cover successively two or more of said compartments as said carrier rotates and having a suitable opening, a vacuum-chamber covering said opening, grooves in said plate connected with said'vacuum-chamber and adapted to gradually expose said compartments successively to the action of the vacuum in said chamber as said carrier rotates, grooves in said plate adapted to gradu ally admit air into said compartments successively as said carrier rotates them beyond said vacuum-chamber, and means for soldering said cans in said compartments as they are successively moved into the influence of said vacuun1chamber, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a rotary carrier adapted to rotate in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis and being provided with a plurality of radial compartments opening upon the periphery of said carrier each compartment being adapted to contain a can, of a plate adapted to cover successively two or more of said compartments as said carrier rotates and having a suitable opening, a vacuum chamber covering said opening, grooves in said plate connected with said vacuum-chamber and adapted to gradually expose said compartments successively to the action of the vacuum in said chamber as said carrier rotates, and means adapted to solder said cans in said compartments as they are successively moved into the influence of said vacuum-chamber, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a rotary carrier adapted to rotate in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis and being provided with a plurality of radial compartments opening upon the periphery of said carrier each compartment being adapted to contain a can, of a plate adapted to cover successively two or more of said compartments as said carrier rotates and having a suitable opening, a vacuum chamber covering said opening,

grooves in said plate connected with said 7. The combination with a rotary carrier adapted to rotate in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis and being provided with a plurality of radial compartments opening upon the periphery of said carrier each compartment being adapted to contain a can, of a plate adapted to cover successively two'or more of said compartments as said carrier rotates and having a suitable opening, a vacuum chamber covering said opening, grooves in said plate adapted to gradually admit air into said compartments successively as said carrier rotates them beyond said vacuum-chamber, and means adapted to solder "said cans in saidcompartments as they are successively moved into the'influence of said vacuum-chamber, substantially as described. I

8. The combination with a vacuum-chamber, and a carrier provided with separate compartments and adapted to move said compartments successively under said vacuum-chamber, of a flexible socket 'upon the outside of said vacuum-chamber, a rod passing through said socket into said chamber and movable longitudinally of itselfin said socket, and a soldering-tool Within said vacuum-chamber and connected with said rod, substantially as described. 7

9. The combination with a vacuum-chamber and a carrier adapted to contain cans and to convey the same successively into the action of said vacuum-chamber, of a flexible socket secured to the exterior of said vacuurn-chamber, a packing in said socket, means 

